Line upon Line

Fortifying the Church from Within

Alma the younger became “a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God; stealing away the hearts of the people; causing much dissension among the people; giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them” (Mosiah 27:9).

While he and the sons of Mosiah were going about seeking to destroy the Church, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, causing them to fall down in astonishment.

“Alma, arise and stand forth,” the angel commanded, “for why persecutest thou the church of God? For the Lord hath said: This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people” (Mosiah 27:13).

There was much assurance in this angelic declaration. It states in effect that the Church was invulnerable to harm from outside forces, that only the transgression of the members within would overthrow it.

We in our day can likewise be assured that the Church of Jesus Christ, established in this dispensation of the fulness of times to prepare the way for the Second Coming of the Lord and Savior in glory, will be invincible to destructive, external forces.